§ 37. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the representations received from the Fife Education Authority as to the need for the institution of an experimental farm and farm school in Fife, he is prepared to secure the allocation of a money grant towards the objects in order that the scheme may now be proceeded with without further delay?
Mr. ADAMSONI would refer the hon. and learned Member to my reply to the question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for Peebles and Southern Midlothian (Mr. Westwood) on Tuesday last.
§ Mr. MILLARCan the right hon. Gentleman explain why so much delay has occurred with regard to the consideration of this question, and will he state definitely to the House that he has been in consultation with the Treasury and is now prepared to make a grant towards this purpose, which he himself advocated last Session?
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKWould not such action on the part of the Education Department be a grave interference with the duties of the Board of Agriculture, with which the Education Department has nothing whatever to do, and would not such an experiment be directly against the best educational interests of Scotland?
Mr. ADAMSONThe funds for such a purpose as that mentioned in the question would require to be got by special grant 1939 from the Treasury, and in my reply last week to the hon. Member for Peebles I informed him that, in the meantime, I have no money available for this purpose.
§ Mr. MAXTONCan we have the assurance of my right hon. Friend that Fifeshire will not be considered in a more favourable way than other important agricultural counties in Scotland?
§ Mr. MILLARWill the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that he is prepared to take action in order to secure the necessary grants for pursuing this end?
§ Mr. WESTWOODIs it not the fact that the reason why the Secretary for Scotland cannot take action lies in the action taken by his predecessors in office?